Cook a Roman Sweet Cake

Food from the past is a lot less complicated than today and it is generally healthy. Just as we're obsessed today by delicious flavours, so too were the ancient Romans. Only difference being, they resorted to spices rather than to additives. Try this recipe for something tasty and healthy!

Ingredients

  • 225 grams spelt wheat flour (Around 1 cup)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground rosemary (available in good quality health food stores and supermarkets)
  • 100 grams almonds (Around .43 of a cup)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons sweet sherry (or substitute with maple syrup/other syrup)
  • 4 tablespoons dark red grape juice
  • 1 tablespoons honey (or alternative such as brown rice syrup, agave syrup)
  • Milk - enough to make a soft, cake mixture consistency

Steps

  1. Assemble ingredients.
  2. Heat the oven to 190ºC (375ºF).
  3. Mix the flour and baking powder together. You can sift the flour if you wish but it is not necessary and the more roughage in the cake, the better.
  4. Blend the rosemary, almonds and cinnamon. Add to the flour mixture.
  5. Combine sherry (or substitute), grape juice and honey.
  6. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir, adding the milk while stirring.
  7. Pour mixture into round or loaf tin lined with baking paper.
  8. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, less if browning too much.
  9. Coat it with honey if you want.
  10. Ready!

Tips

  • If it gets a little dry, try the old Roman solution of soaking it in milk and then frying it in olive oil. Coat in cinnamon if desired before frying. Roman era doughnuts!
  • Toss peeled almond slivers or chopped hazelnuts atop the cake if desired.
  • This cake is best eaten on the day of cooking; it is delicious warm from the oven.
  • You could also try adding your favourite dried fruits chopped into small pieces, for example, dried apricots, glacé cherries, raisins.
  • If you enjoy Roman cooking, do some further research into what they used to eat and adapt it to your modern cuisine. Much of it will be simple and healthy but very tasty.
  • You can substitute soy milk if desired. Sure, ancient Romans wouldn't have known a soybean if they fell over it but if they had known of them, you can be sure they'd have used them!

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Sources and Citations

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